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There I was in the kitchen when there was this almighty BANG!
I started thinking was it the electrics, I'd literally just opened the oven door, was it an assassin finally coming to get me?
No, it was this
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That's the rim on my old Kona giving up. It's a 99 Kona, wheels are probably about 12 to 14 years old but it's only really been used for commuting. So I guess those rim brakes have finally worn through the alloy to make it thin enough to give up. Pressure was about 80psi, tyres ok up to 85psi, I'd just pumped them up for the commute tomorrow but guess I'll be looking to use a different bike.
Glad this didn't happen on the way to work 😯
Worth checking your rims if your still on old rim brakes!
Yup, that's what happens when rims get too worn 🙂
Does usually happen when just pumped up. Good job too as that happening whilst riding wouldn't be much fun!
Just be thankful it didn't happen as you were riding along, we had a customer in the shop who repeatedly ignored our advice regarding his severely worn out rims, the front eventually split apart and locked up in the fork crown pitching him over the bars - he made a helluva mess of his face, nose and teeth.
Best argument I have seen for discs
Does usually happen when just pumped up. Good job too as that happening whilst riding wouldn't be much fun!
Happened to a guy right in front of me in a bunch a few years back, going quite fast down a hill. Nearly shat meself when it went off BANG like a gunshot and he fishtailed all over the road in front of me. Fortunately we all managed to stay upright and stop safely, just about.
Check your rim wear indicators folks. You do know you have rim wear indicators, right? (Ok, some rims don't, but most do.) Either a line all the way round or a small dot usually opposite the valve hole, once that's gone the rim's toast. Or, if there isn't one obvious it might be an internal one that only appears when the rim has worn down enough, so if you notice a hole that wasn't there before, bin that rim. 🙂
Edit: yeah and if your bike shop is telling you your rims are ****ed, listen to them, ok?
Best argument I have seen for discs
The wheels are 12 years old. Sure it's easier to replace a disc than a rim, but it's not likely to happen to most people.
Caught mine just before it went. Was just starting to bend outwards. Only seen it on commuter bikes. I guess wheels last longer and see more braking. Luckily replacements are dirt cheap.
That's happened to me 4 times over the years - all whilst riding and all rears! Bodged the first with zip ties and rode (slowly) back to the car. Close enough to walk home from 2 more, but the other one happened just outside Skipton and I live in Huddersfield. Someone finally took pity on me after I'd walked for an hour and a half, they picked me up and dropped me on the Hudds side of Halifax, from where I managed to get someone to collect me. I'm obviously over-optimistic when it comes to working out how much life is left in my rims...
Your rims lasted 12 years? 😯
My commute takes me along the seafront for a few miles - Saltdean to Brighton, we get salt water, stones, grit and chalk on the undercliff walkway in the winter, wonder if that didn't help? It's only the last 2 years I've been doing the route in winter. There's a couple of steep hills on my route, must get nearly 30mph down one of them, that could have been nasty. Anyway, been looking for an excuse to use the 29er to commute on, just need some road tyres and tubes.
Good job too as that happening whilst riding wouldn't be much fun!
Riding buddy got skewered in the back of the calf by 1/4 of his rear rim when that happened, not nice. Check your rims regularly especially if used as a filthy commuter!
Your rims lasted 12 years?
🙂 It mostly got commuted on in the spring, and as soon as the weather got good and days longer I would commute over the South Downs so use a different bike, so it's not had continuous use over those 12 years or so.
Had a customers whos did this when it was in the back of the car and he was driving.
Said he scared him so much, he stopped and was trying to get out the car and still had his seatbelt on..lol
Friend's Kona funnily enough, although this was 5 years ago...
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Made a hell of a noise.
That's what made me change in the end. I just got fed up with swapping rims. It isn't difficult but it's just one less job to do which I'm happy aboutBest argument I have seen for discs
Happened to me on the coast to coast about 5 miles outside of Keswick years ago.
Coming down a hill, massive bang, a bit of a turtle head. Luckily didn't crash. Took the tyre off and rode to Keswick bikes on the rim to buy a new wheel.
Kept a better eye on the braking surface after that.
XT hub, Mavic M231 with snowflake spokes. Left it at the shop 🙁
Done the same on my road bike which was used for racing, commuting and training - Open pros typically lasted about 18 months for me... happened just after pumping the tyre up to 120psi in a narrow corridor. My ears didn't stop ringing for an hour... 😯
Couple of cable ties and your good to go 😀
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Maybe it was a really short assassin. Ant's can hold a grudge
I've had it happen several times pumping tyres up, going over a cattle grid, on the exit of a 30mph downhill bend and on the Barbican in Plymouth at the start of a solo Plymouth to Minehead (MTB Pro Westcountry Way) ride.
Certainly makes your ears ring.
had an old Mavic 213CD let go like that, mid thrash down a local descent. long walk home
Best argument I have seen for [s]discs[/s] checking your wear indicators.
FIFY. Most wheel rims will show an indent that disappears with wear. Mavic rims will show an indent that appears with wear.